Sunday, February 15, 2015

It's been a long time since I featured an unusual model kit here but when I saw this one I had to act. As you can see, the subject is legendary model Bettie Page and the pose is based on one of the sessions she had with Bunny Yeager (IIRC). The kit is 1/6 scale, which means a six-foot person would be a foot tall model. The material here is not styrene plastic but resin, and there are only about ten pieces. Kits like this are for the skilled painter or someone dedicated to the subject. You can bid on it on eBay today, Feb. 15, for an opening offer of $99.99. There is a better Bettie Page kit from the same maker also on eBay, but it was a lot more revealing and this is a family blog.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

From 1998, my daughter Kristine and her tap dance group about to perform at their recital. The theme was "Money" and those are giant dimes they're holding. Kristine is on the front right (thank goodness). My wife and I were also in that recital, and because the teacher had never had a family show up for classes she gave us a spotlight number.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

We suffer the loss
of our Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather. Born in Jordan, MT and
raised on a cattle ranch. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps
in 1939. On 4/18/1942 he took part in the Doolittle Raid against Japan. After
the war he was awarded a commission as an officer and served for 28 years. He
was an avid fisherman, and he loved to travel with his wife Lorraine. He
enjoyed working with stained glass and had a great sense of humor. We will miss
him dearly. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Lorraine, son
Eddie, son-in-law Don, and grandson David. He is survived by daughter
Charlotte, son Rod and wife Billie, daughter-in-law Sue, Darlene and husband
Jerry, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers,
donations to the Wounded Warriors Foundation.

Col Saylor was one of the four remaining Doolittle Raiders. I had the privilege of seeing him and two of the other Raiders speak at McChord AFB when I worked there; it must have been about six years ago. They talked, answered questions, and signed small, prepared posters for everyone. I was honored to be in their presence. If you don't know about the Doolittle Raid, you should Google it, or check out the movie 30 Seconds Over Tokyo.

Thursday, February 05, 2015

This was taken in 1997 at Monterey, California, where I was the Bouchercon Fan GoH. From left to right we have Loren Estleman, his wife Carol, me, Leslie Slaastad, and Bill Crider. I still have that t-shirt.